International Law

Facebook "Study Group" Leads to Ryerson "Cheating" Allegations

By Garry J. Wise, Wise Law Office, Toronto

Yet another local Facebook controversy is attracting international attention.

Chris Avenir, an 18 year-old student at Toronto's Ryerson University faces possible expulsion for academic misconduct over his role as administrator of a chemistry "study group" on Facebook.

According to eCanadaNow, university officials allege the group contained "cheats, tips, and ways to get around the online testing methods that the University uses for its classes."

Ryerson spokesman James Norrie told CBC, "It is our job to protect academic integrity from any threat. And if that threat comes from new online tools, we have a responsibility as academics to understand the risks, to assess those risks and threats, and to educate people about how to avoid misconduct."

Students consider the administration's response to be "vast overkill."

A disciplinary hearing is scheduled for March 11, 2008.

- Garry J. Wise, Toronto

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Full post as published by Wise Law Blog on March 08, 2008 (boomark / email).